Does a blue card mean there isn’t anything that the BON needs to review?

Not necessarily. Remember, blue cards are sent to individuals whose CBC was clear, but it is possible that you did have criminal activity in the past and the jurisdiction has not reported the information to the TX DPS. In addition, the eligibility section of the D.O. has questions of a non-criminal nature. It is highly recommended that you read the ENTIRE section of eligibility questions to determine if a D.O. needs to be submitted

I already know that something is going to show up on my background check. Can I mail the documentation before the BON has the CBC results?

You may write the letter of explanation and start accumulating the necessary documentation, however, we recommend that you wait until receiving a letter from the BON to ensure that all incidences are addressed. Not following this procedure could delay the processing.

How long does it take to hear back about the Declaratory Order I submitted?

Within ten (10) business days of the BON receiving a completed declaratory order petition, statement, and court records staff will submit the documentation to the Director of Operations for the initial review (given that the CBC results have already been received by the Board). The initial review can take up to 30 days. You will be sent correspondence regarding the outcome of the initial review and whether additional action is necessary on your part.

If the nature of the issue can be resolved within the delegated authority of the Operations Department, there will be no charge, and the Operations outcome letter will be mailed accordingly.

If the nature of the criminal issue is beyond the delegated authority of the Operations Department and must be transferred to the Enforcement Department for review, you may be asked for the $150 review fee. Within fifteen (15) business days of receipt of the fee your file will be transferred to the Enforcement Department for review. Once the DO petition is transferred to enforcement, you will need to allow a minimum of four months before inquiring.

I am having difficulty obtaining some of the documentation since the incident happened so long ago. What do I do?

You need to make every attempt to obtain court documentation related to the incident in question. The appropriate legal jurisdiction should be able to provide something on letterhead stating that no records are found, if that is indeed the case.

I misplaced my blue card and my school is asking for it. How do I get another one?

The BON mails the original blue card to the address provided by the school on the New and Accepted Student Roster. One additional courtesy copy can be mailed to an address you specify. Email your request to webmaster@bon.texas.gov Include your full name, date of birth, and last four digits of your SSN (if applicable), and confirm which address to mail the courtesy copy. Please make the subject line of your email: BLUE CARD COPY

Any additional blue cards, after the first two, would require a new roster from the nursing program.

I received approval through the D.O. process. This means I can now answer “no” to the eligibility questions on the NCLEX application, correct?

No. Having a previous review on file does not negate the need for honesty on the eligibility questions. Complete the paper version of the application and include a statement that the information has been previously reviewed by the BON and, if applicable, that no new offenses have occurred. You may also submit a copy of the previous approval letter.

For more information on these and other topics, use the search field at the top right corner of the page. Should you have further questions or are in need of clarification, please feel free to contact the Board.